Bucking the trend

Discover an abundance of information and test-drive new technologies at Graph Expo® and Converting Expo® 2006—the largest edition of this trade show since 2000.

By Associate Editor Jorina Fontelera -- Converting Magazine, 9/1/2006

With more commercial printers manufacturing labels and folding cartons, converters need to stay abreast of the latest happenings to keep up with competition coming from outside the strictly package-printing field. What better way to scope out what your competition has to offer and the latest advancements in converting as well than by attending next month’s Graph Expo® and Converting Expo® 2006, to be held Oct. 15-18 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The Graphic Arts Show Co., which manages the event, claims that this will be the largest national graphic communications and converting exhibition since 2000. The event is bucking the trend affecting trade shows in the graphic arts arena and capital equipment shows in general, GASC says. Over 400,000 sq ft of display space have already been booked. The company credits the success of recently launched special-interest features such as the Wide Format Pavilion and the Mailing & Fulfillment Center as factors contributing to the growth of Graph Expo and Converting Expo.

“While many shows struggle to maintain their size, and most are shrinking, equipment and service providers in the graphic arts industry find that Graph Expo and Converting Expo provide a great return on their marketing investment,” says GASC president Ralph Nappi.

Beyond the two special-interest exhibition areas, there are also new hands-on tutorial sessions this year. Held in a computer lab, these programs will allow attendees to test-drive software and learn the latest techniques and processes which can be taken back to the print shops.

Going digital

Want to see how all this technology comes together? Visit the Innovation Gallery and study examples of wide-format inkjet images on a variety of substrates. Each item in the Gallery is courtesy of the Wide Format Pavilion and showcases the gamut of applications possible.

But that pavilion is not just for commercial printers. Much like commercial printers looking to converting to grow the business, why not use equipment from the graphic arts industry to grow your package-printing sales? The Wide Format Pavilion will have various manufacturers on hand to answer your questions about different inks and media experts will be available to talk to about new substrates. See the latest workflow management tools, hot- and cold-finishing solutions, color management programs and RIPs, and learn which are best for your needs.

If you’re still unsure about going digital after visiting the Wide Format Pavilion, there are also numerous seminars you can attend to learn all about digital printing. As a bonus, many of these seminars compare converting and commercial printing and how the two industries tie together.

To help you plan your visit, you can also take advantage of the free Attendee Assistant tool found at http://graphexpo06.attendeeassistant.com. The Assistant can help you compare products from different vendors, identify all the exhibitors offering the products you need, create and print a list of companies and products to see, view and add seminars of interest to your planner, request appointments with exhibitors, and reserve special offers and discounts. In addition, you can save your planner for future access and to open it from different computers.

MORE INFO:
GRAPHIC ARTS SHOW CO., 703/264-7200, fax: 703/620-9187, www.graphexpo.com

Seminars at a glance:

Make the most out of your visit to Graph Expo and Converting Expo by checking out these converting-related seminars.

Oct. 15:

2:15-4:00 p.m. Who’s Making Money In Digital Print? It Can and Should Be You, presented by Bill Farquharson, Print Tec Network

Digital and variable data printing is on everyone’s mind, however not everyone is profiting equally. Those who are selling digital and variable print successfully have found some secrets and shortcuts. They understand that digital is different and therefore must be marketed differently. “We’ve Got Digital” simply won’t cut it. You need to understand what the correct message is and how to overcome the challenges of carving out a digital niche. This seminar shares the secrets and teaches new digital printers what changes they need to make to profit from digital printing.

Oct. 16:

12:15-1:45 p.m. 14 Technologies That Will Challenge Your Business (Lunch Session), presented by Howie Fenton, NAPL

How do you keep track of all the technologies and methodologies that will change your business? Unless you have a full time person focusing on new technologies, you may not recognize those technologies that are about to impact your company. This seminar will describe new trends and technologies that are available and soon to be released.

Oct. 17:

12:15–1:45 p.m. Critical Factors in Printing and Converting 2006, presented by Frank Romano, RIT Professor Emeritus

What is the state of the printing and converting industries in terms of firms, revenue, technology use and other relevant trends? Learn how converting and printing are related. Get a quick snapshot of our industry and see how your company compares.

2:15-4:00 p.m. Opportunities in Package Printing—Offset & Beyond, presented by Hal Hinderliter, Cal Poly

Half or more of all tags, labels and folding cartons are printed by commercial printers, not package printers. New offset presses handle heavier stocks and some have inline diecutting. Digital printing is growing rapidly in this area, and flexo still has many advantages. This session will give you practical information on the opportunities in package printing.

Oct. 18:

8:15–10:00 a.m. The Label Market—Offset, Flexo, Digital, presented by Frank Romano, RIT Professor Emeritus

Today, flexography has strengths that surpass gravure, screen and offset for printing labels—and its limitations continue to be reduced. Configurations with integrated finishing and converting make it the process of choice in areas once beyond its competitive capability. It is taking label volume from offset and will give digital print a run for the money. This seminar covers technological advances that will keep flexo viable into the future.

10:15 a.m.-Noon. The Future of Flexo, presented by Frank Romano, RIT Professor Emeritus

Today, flexography’s strengths surpass aspects of gravure, screen and offset and its limitations continue to be reduced. Its configuration with finishing and converting makes it the process of choice in areas once beyond its competitive capability. Today flexo goes far beyond tags, labels and flexible packaging. It is finding growth in folding cartons, envelopes and publications—domains of offset and gravure in the past. This seminar offers the opportunity for printers to understand new markets for any who have seen their business reduced to commodity price competition.